Zacarias 4
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
Zacarias 4
Spurgeon - Does Jesus despise ‘the day of small things’? Surely you have misread the Scriptures if you think so, for the Christ of the gospels took note of a widow’s small coins, and was pleased with the hosannas of boys and girls. He rejoiced that his Father revealed his great things not to the wise and prudent, but to babes, and he called to his work not the high priests and philosophers, but the fishermen and tax-collectors. So, because you see a difference between yourself and others, and a change in the circumstances of your trial, do not begin to think that the Heavenly Father will desert you, or I shall again have to tell you that he is God of the valleys as well as the hills. John Newton - Fear not—he will not despise the day of small things or quench the smoking flax. All things shall work together for your good. Your love to him shall sweeten all your difficulties, his love to you shall enable you to hold out, make you more than conquerors in the end and bestow on you the crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love him and wait for his appearing. Streams in the Desert - “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6) MY way led up a hill, and right at the foot I saw a boy on a bicycle. He was pedalling up hill against the wind, and evidently found it a tremendously hard work. Just as he was working most strenuously and doing his best painfully, there came a trolley car going in the same direction—up the hill. It was not going too fast for the boy to get behind it, and with one hand to lay hold of the bar at the back. Then you know what happened. He went up that hill like a bird. Then it flashed upon me: “Why, I am like that boy on the bicycle in my weariness and weakness. I am pedalling up hill against all kinds of opposition, and am almost worn out with the task. But here at hand is a great available power, the strength of the Lord Jesus. “I have only to get in touch with Him and to maintain communication with Him, though it may be only one little finger of faith, and that will be enough to make His power mine for the doing of this bit of service that just now seems too much for me.” And I was helped to dismiss my weariness and to realize this truth.—The Life of Fuller Purpose. ABANDONED Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost! Seeking all His fulness at whatever cost; Cutting all the shore-lines, launching in the deep Of His mighty power—strong to save and keep. Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost! Oh! the sinking, sinking, until self is lost! Until the emptied vessel lies broken at His feet; Waiting till His filling shall make the work complete. Utterly abandoned to the will of God; Seeking for no other path than my Master trod; Leaving ease and pleasure, making Him my choice, Waiting for His guidance, listening for His voice. Utterly abandoned! no will of my own; For time and for eternity, His, and His alone; All my plans and purposes lost in His sweet will, Having nothing, yet in Him all things possessing still. Utterly abandoned! ’tis so sweet to be Captive in His bonds of love, yet so wondrous free; Free from sin’s entanglements, free from doubt and fear, Free from every worry, burden, grief or care. Utterly abandoned! oh, the rest is sweet, As I tarry, waiting, at His blessed feet; Waiting for the coming of the Guest divine, Who my inmost being shall perfectly refine. Lo! He comes and fills me, Holy Spirit sweet! I, in Him, am satisfied! I, in Him, complete! And the light within my soul shall nevermore grow dim While I keep my covenant—abandoned unto Him! —Author Unknown. Amazing Grace - Kenneth Osbeck (borrow) - SPIRIT OF GOD, DESCEND UPON MY HEART George Croly, 1780–1860 - Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6) Although it is always thrilling at Christmas to recall the events of our Savior’s birth, or at Easter to celebrate His triumph over death, we must not forget Ascension or Pentecost. If Christ had never ascended to make intercession for us or had never sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and guide us, our relationship with the heavenly Father would be most incomplete. One of the finest of all hymns for the Pentecost season is “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart.” It was written by Anglican minister George Croly, who was known among his associates as a “fundamentalist in theology, a fierce conservative in politics, and intensely opposed to all forms of liberalism.” The hymn first appeared in 1854 in Croly’s own hymnal, Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship. It was originally titled “Holiness Desired.” Each stanza contributes an important truth for our spiritual benefit: Stanza One—A desire to change the focus of one’s life from things temporal to things spiritual. Spirit of God, descend upon my heart: Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move. Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art, and make me love Thee as I ought to love. Stanza Two—The total dedication of one’s self to God. Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King? All, all Thine own—soul, heart and strength and mind. I see Thy cross—there teach my heart to cling: O let me seek Thee, and O let me find. Stanza Three—A prayerful concern for knowing fully the Spirit’s abiding presence. Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh; teach me the struggles of the soul to bear—to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh; teach me the patience of unanswered prayer. Stanza Four—A most beautiful metaphor of a Spirit-filled life: “my heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.” Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love, one holy passion filling all my frame: The baptism of the heav’n descended Dove—my heart an altar and Thy love the flame. For Today: Psalm 51:10, 11; John 15:26; Romans 5:5; 8:1–4; Ephesians 4:29, 30 Pray even now that the Holy Spirit will give you a greater love and devotion for Christ and will teach and personalize more fully the truths of this hymn. Carry this musical prayer as you go— Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart 1 Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move; Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art, And make me love Thee as I ought to love. 2 Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King? All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind; I see Thy cross—there teach my heart to cling: O let me seek Thee, and O let me find. 3 Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh; Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear, To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh; Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer. 4 Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love, One holy passion filling all my frame; The baptism of the heav’n-descended Dove, My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame. Zechariah 4:7 ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” KJV Zechariah 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. BGT Zechariah 4:7 τίς εἶ σύ τὸ ὄρος τὸ μέγα πρὸ προσώπου Ζοροβαβελ τοῦ κατορθῶσαι καὶ ἐξοίσω τὸν λίθον τῆς κληρονομίας ἰσότητα χάριτος χάριτα αὐτῆς LXE Zechariah 4:7 Who art thou, the great mountain before Zorobabel, that thou shouldest prosper? whereas I will bring out the stone of the inheritance, the grace of it the equal of my grace. NET Zechariah 4:7 "What are you, you great mountain? Because of Zerubbabel you will become a level plain! And he will bring forth the temple capstone with shoutings of 'Grace! Grace!' because of this." CSB Zechariah 4:7 'What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it! '" ESV Zechariah 4:7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" NIV Zechariah 4:7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' " NLT Zechariah 4:7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it!' " NRS Zechariah 4:7 What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" O great: Zec 14:4,5 Ps 114:4,6 Isa 40:3,4 41:15 64:1-3 Jer 51:25 Da 2:34,35 Mic 1:4 4:1 Na 1:5,6 Hab 3:6 Hag 2:6-9,21-23 Mt 21:21 Lu 3:5 Rev 16:20 headstone: Zec 4:9 Ps 118:22 Isa 28:16 Mt 21:42 Mk 12:10 Lu 20:17 Ac 4:11 Eph 2:20 1Pe 2:7 shoutings: Ezr 3:11-13 6:15-17 Job 38:6,7 Rev 5:9-13 19:1-6 Grace: Jer 33:11 Ro 11:6 Eph 1:6,7 2:4-8 What are you, O great mountain? Mountain is a metaphor for an objective or job too overwhelming, so great that it seems impossible to climb or complete (the task). In context it stood for all the obstacles in the way of rebuilding the Temple of God. There may have also been a "mountain" of rubble from the ruins of Solomon's Temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. This is a rhetorical question, because in the light of God's provision of His Spirit, there is no "mountain" too great that it cannot be ascended or conquered. Spurgeon - You all get up plans and say, ‘Now, if the church were altered a little bit, it would go on better.’ You think if there were different ministers, or different church order, or something different, then all would be well. No, dear friends, it is not there the mistake lies, it is that we want more of the Spirit.” Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain (mishor - a level place); and he will bring forth the top stone (eben) (signifying completion) with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’ Note this is God's word of promise to a man, Zerubbabel, that he would finish the task and even set the top stone (capstone) in place. Just as there was a constant and sufficient supply of oil without human agency (in this vision of 2 olive trees), so Zerubbabel's work on the temple and in the lives of the people was to be completed, not by human might or power, but by divine power--constant and sufficient. The work was dependent on God. He would provide the oil or strength of his Spirit. Such enablement was needed because of the opposition and apathy hindering the rebuilding (Hag 2:1-9). THOUGHT - "When the work is done through human might or power we can take credit for it, but when the work is done by the continual supply of the Spirit, then it is all to the glory of God’s grace." (David Guzik) (IT FOLLOWS THEN..."LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." 1Cor 1:31+, SEE ALSO Jeremiah 9:23, 24) NET NOTE - In context, the great mountain here must be viewed as a metaphor for the enormous task of rebuilding the temple and establishing the messianic kingdom (cf. TEV “Obstacles as great as mountains”). Grace is a fitting response to the idea that it was “not by strength and not by power” but by God’s gracious Spirit that the work could be done (cf. v. 6). The man of God in the mission of God is not only indispensable, he is also indestructible. -- King James Bible Commentary. J C Philpot - If the literal temple had been built up without any trouble whatever; if all had gone on smooth and easy, there would not have been any shouting of “Grace, grace,” when it was finished. But when it was seen how the Lord had brought a few feeble exiles from Babylon; how He had supported them amidst and carried them through all their troubles; and how He that laid the foundation had brought forth the head-stone, all that stood by could say, “Grace, grace unto it.” It was these very perplexities and trials that made them join so cheerily in the shout, and made the heart and soul to leap with the lips, when they burst forth with “Grace, grace unto it.” And who will shout the loudest hereafter? He that has known and felt the most of the aboundings of sin to sink His soul down into grief and sorrow, and most of the superaboundings of grace over sin to make him triumph and rejoice. Who will have most reason to say, “Grace, grace?” The lost and ruined wretch, who has feared that he should go to hell a thousand times over, and yet has been delivered thence by sovereign grace, and brought to the glory and joy of heaven. No other person is fit to join in that song; and I am sure no other will join in it but he who has known painfully and experimentally the bitterness of sin and the evil of a depraved heart; and yet has seen and felt that grace has triumphed over all, in spite of the devil, in spite of the world, and in spite of himself, and brought him to that blessed place where many times he was afraid he should never come. -- Ears from Harvested Sheaves. C H Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook - “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” Zech. 4:7. AT this hour a mountain of difficulty, distress, or necessity may be in our way, and natural reason sees no path over it, or through it, or round it. Let faith come in, and straightway the mountain disappears and becomes a plain. But faith must first hear the word of the Lord—“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” This grand truth is a prime necessity for meeting the insurmountable trials of life. I see that I can do nothing, and that all reliance on man is vanity. “Not by might.” I see that no visible means can be relied on, but the force is in the invisible Spirit. God alone must work, and men and means must be nothing accounted of. If it be so, that the Almighty God takes up the concerns of his people, then great mountains are nothing. He can remove worlds as boys toss balls about, or drive them with their foot. This power he can lend to me. If the Lord bids me move an Alp I can do it through his name. It may be a great mountain, but even before my feebleness it shall become a plain; for the Lord hath said it. What can I be afraid of with God on my side? Related Resource: Spurgeon - Small Things Not to be Despised QUESTION - Who was Zerubbabel in the Bible? ANSWER - Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin of Judah (1 Chronicles 3:17) and thus a descendant of David. Born in Babylon during the exile (between 587 and 539 BC), Zerubbabel traveled to Judah after King Cyrus II allowed the Judean captives to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1–4; 6:3–5, 8–10). The prophet Haggai identifies Zerubbabel as the governor of Judah after the exile (Haggai 1:1; 2:2, 21). Zerubbabel is listed in the Bible as an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:12–13; Luke 3:27). The identity of Zerubbabel’s father is somewhat of a puzzle. All but one reference in the Bible name Shealtiel as his father (Ezra 3:2, 8; 5:2; Nehemiah 12:1; Haggai 1:1, 12–14; 2:2, 23; Matthew 1:12–13; Luke 3:27). This would make King Jehoiachin his grandfather. But in 1 Chronicles 3:19, Pedaiah, the brother of Shealtiel, is named as Zerubbabel’s father. One possible solution is that Shealtiel was married but died before having a son. Under the law of levirate marriage, his brother Pedaiah might have taken Shealtiel’s widow, making Pedaiah the biological father of Zerubbabel. Another proposal is that both Shealtiel and Pedaiah had sons named Zerubbabel. A final solution suggests that the text in 1 Chronicles contains a scribal error. Zerubbabel is a Babylonian name meaning “offspring of Babylon.” As governor of Judah, Zerubbabel was appointed as one of the initial leaders who supervised the reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple with the help of Joshua, the high priest (Ezra 3:2–3, 8). After a season of about fourteen months to get settled, the Jewish people began to rebuild in earnest. It wasn’t long before opposition arose from surrounding adversaries, and, eventually, the work was brought to a standstill by order of King Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:1–24). Only the foundation of the temple had been completed. The foundation showed that this new temple was going to be much smaller than Solomon’s original, to the disappointment of those who remembered the former structure: “Many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid” (Ezra 3:12). The prophet Haggai addressed their disappointment: “‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. . . . ‘Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty” (Haggai 2:3–4). Zechariah, too, told the people not to despise “the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10), because God had great plans for this new temple. After a seventeen-year delay, under the next king of Persia, Darius, the Jews were granted permission to continue rebuilding. Within three and a half years after the second effort began, the temple was completed in 516 BC. In one of Zechariah’s visions, he receives words that surely encouraged Zerubbabel: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you’” (Zechariah 4:6–9). As a descendant of King David, Zerubbabel was identified with the coming Messiah by his contemporary prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. The Jewish people began to see Zerubbabel as their great hope for reviving the Davidic kingship and for liberation from the Persians. Haggai declared that God would use Zerubbabel to overthrow and destroy kingdoms: “The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: ‘Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.’ . . . ‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty” (Haggai 2:20–23). As a seal of royal authority, the “signet ring” is a messianic metaphor. In Jeremiah 22:24–25, God said if Jehoiachin (Zerubbabel’s grandfather) were His signet ring, He would cast him off. Thus, Haggai was saying that through Zerubbabel God would reverse the curse He had pronounced on Jehoiachin. God would place the wicked king’s grandson like a signet ring on His finger. Likewise, the words “on that day” point to a future messianic fulfillment of Haggai’s message. Although Zerubbabel’s temple was smaller than Solomon’s had been, God promised a greater glory: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” said the Lord (Haggai 2:9). The glory bestowed on Zerubbabel’s temple came centuries later when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the temple courts. Solomon’s temple never received a visit from the Messiah, but Zerubbabel’s did. Curiously, even before the temple was completed and dedicated, Zerubbabel’s name disappears from the biblical record. It’s possible that Zerubbabel may have returned to Babylon soon after finishing his work on the temple, or it could be that the Persians feared a Jewish uprising and had Zerubbabel removed or executed. Regardless, Zerubbabel is revered as one of the Bible’s great heroes, laboring to reconstruct the Lord’s house of worship and shining like a beacon toward the coming Messiah. While the temple Zerubbabel helped rebuild paled in comparison to the size and grandeur of Solomon’s, it far outlasted it. In fact, Zerubbabel’s temple was still standing 500 years later when the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, graced its courts.GotQuestions.org Related Resource: What was Zerubbabel's temple/the second temple? | GotQuestions.org Zechariah 4:8 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, KJV Zechariah 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, BGT Zechariah 4:8 καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρός με λέγων LXE Zechariah 4:8 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, NET Zechariah 4:8 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me as follows: CSB Zechariah 4:8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: ESV Zechariah 4:8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, NIV Zechariah 4:8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: NLT Zechariah 4:8 Then another message came to me from the LORD: NRS Zechariah 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 Zechariah 4:9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. KJV Zechariah 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. BGT Zechariah 4:9 αἱ χεῖρες Ζοροβαβελ ἐθεμελίωσαν τὸν οἶκον τοῦτον καὶ αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐπιτελέσουσιν αὐτόν καὶ ἐπιγνώσῃ διότι κύριος παντοκράτωρ ἐξαπέσταλκέν με πρὸς σέ LXE Zechariah 4:9 The hands of Zorobabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands shall finish it: and thou shalt know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to thee. NET Zechariah 4:9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this temple, and his hands will complete it." Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you. CSB Zechariah 4:9 "Zerubbabel's hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you. ESV Zechariah 4:9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. NIV Zechariah 4:9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. NLT Zechariah 4:9 "Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Heaven's Armies has sent me. NRS Zechariah 4:9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. have: Ezr 3:8-13 5:16 his hands: Zec 6:12,13 Ezr 6:14,15 Mt 16:18 Heb 12:2 and: Zec 2:8,9,11 6:15 Isa 48:16 Joh 3:17 5:36,37 8:16-18 17:21 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it - The message from God reiterates that Zerubbabel would accomplish his task of rebuilding the Temple. Now he had both the power of God (Zech 4:6) and the promise of God. THOUGHT - Can we not each individually apply this truth to our lives, for our His "divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." (2Pe 1:3) And you ask "What is my task? There is no need to rebuild the Temple?" I would answer in two ways: (1) Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Are you building your life on the sure Word of God, relying on His Word and Spirit to keep your temple holy to the Lord? (2) Are you seeking His face that you might understand the "good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them?" (Eph 2:10). He has given us everything supernatural we need to finish these tasks. How are you doing beloved? Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. - When is "then?" Clearly when the capstone is placed. Zechariah 4:10 “For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel–these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.” KJV Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. BGT Zechariah 4:10 διότι τίς ἐξουδένωσεν εἰς ἡμέρας μικράς καὶ χαροῦνται καὶ ὄψονται τὸν λίθον τὸν κασσιτέρινον ἐν χειρὶ Ζοροβαβελ ἑπτὰ οὗτοι ὀφθαλμοὶ κυρίου εἰσὶν οἱ ἐπιβλέποντες ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν LXE Zechariah 4:10 For who has despised the small days? surely they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet of tin in the hand of Zorobabel: these are the seven eyes that look upon all the earth. NET Zechariah 4:10 For who dares make light of small beginnings? These seven eyes will joyfully look on the tin tablet in Zerubbabel's hand. (These are the eyes of the LORD, which constantly range across the whole earth.) CSB Zechariah 4:10 For who scorns the day of small things? These seven eyes of the LORD, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." ESV Zechariah 4:10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth." NIV Zechariah 4:10 "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)" NLT Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.) NRS Zechariah 4:10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth." despised: Ezr 3:12,13 Ne 4:2-4 Job 8:7 Pr 4:18 Da 2:34,35 Ho 6:3 Hag 2:3 Mt 13:31-33 1Co 1:28,29 for they: etc. or, since the seven eyes of the Lord shall rejoice, Isa 66:11,14 Lu 15:5-10,32 and shall: Am 7:7,8 plummet: Heb. stone of tin those: Zec 3:9 Rev 8:2 they are: Zec 1:10,11 2Ch 16:9 Pr 15:3 Rev 5:6 See multiple older sermons on "small things" Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” Rev 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. Rev 4:5 And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; Pr 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. For who has despised the day of small things? - Solomon's Temple made the rebuilt temple seem like a "small thing" an the day of small things could also refer to the time since they had begun to rebuild the sanctuary. We read of reactions to the rebuilt temple Haggai 2:3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? Ezra 3:12-13 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel–these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth. - The omniscient LORD rejoiced to see the progress of the work. Henry
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Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - Evening, November 26 “They shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.” —Zechariah 4:10 Small things marked the beginning of the work in the hand of Zerubbabel, but none might despise it, for the Lord had raised up one who would persevere until the headstone should be brought forth with shoutings. The plummet was in good hands. Here is the comfort of every believer in the Lord Jesus; let the work of grace be ever so small in its beginnings, the plummet is in good hands, a master builder greater than Solomon has undertaken the raising of the heavenly temple, and he will not fail nor be discouraged till the topmost pinnacle shall be raised. If the plummet were in the hand of any merely human being, we might fear for the building, but the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in Jesus’ hand. The works did not proceed irregularly, and without care, for the master’s hand carried a good instrument. Had the walls been hurriedly run up without due superintendence, they might have been out of the perpendicular; but the plummet was used by the chosen overseer. Jesus is evermore watching the erection of his spiritual temple, that it may be built securely and well. We are for haste, but Jesus is for judgment. He will use the plummet, and that which is out of line must come down, every stone of it. Hence the failure of many a flattering work, the overthrow of many a glittering profession. It is not for us to judge the Lord’s church, since Jesus has a steady hand, and a true eye, and can use the plummet well. Do we not rejoice to see judgment left to him? Small Things A man once wrote that mountains are made of small sands, that moments make years, and trifles, life. Robert Hawker - Blessed LORD! teach me, in the view of the humble instruments thou wert pleased to make use of for the deliverance of thy people, never to despise the day of small things, but to learn the full assurance of that precious doctrine, that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the SPIRIT of the LORD. Oh! for grace to be forever leaning upon thy strength, thou dear Redeemer, and to know, that thy strength is perfected in weakness. Ever, dearest LORD, be thou my strength, my hope, and song of rejoicing. I shall be more than conqueror through thine arm helping me. Robert Neighbor - Who hath despised the day of small things? God is not dependent on the great multitudes. He is in the midst of the few. Describe Gideon and his battle. He began with 32,000 and then the number was cut down to 10,000 and then still cut down to 300. Yet with Christ in the midst as the leader of the hosts, there is victory — and God gets the glory. Small Beginnings Now that man has walked on the moon, we easily forget how it all began. After World War II, U.S. Army scientists were debriefing men like Wernher von Braun, who built the first long-range ballistic missile. He said, "Why don't you ask your own rocket pioneer, Dr. Robert Goddard?" Now, the Goddard Space Center is named for him! On March 16, 1926, on the farm of his Aunt Effie Ward, Goddard and a couple of friends launched the world's first successful rocket. It rose 41 feet in the air, flew for two and one-half seconds, and landed 184 feet from the launch pad. But it was a beginning. In the words of Scripture, despise not "the day of small things" (Zechariah 4:10). Adrian Rogers - "Don't despise the day of small things" (Zechariah 4:10), because wonderful things come in small packages. Look, if you will, in Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee"—out of Bethlehem—"shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2) Ray Pritchard - “Who despises the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4;10) A simple but profound question. God never despises small things. In fact, the most important things God is doing today are unseen, unknown and usually unappreciated! "The true Christian is the true citizen, lofty of purpose, resolute in endeavor, ready for a hero's deeds, but never looking down on his task because it is cast in the day of small things; scornful of baseness, awake to his own duties as well as to his rights, following the higher law with reverence, and in this world doing all that in his power lies, so that when death comes he may feel that mankind is in some degree better because he lived." —Theodore Roosevelt John
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Spurgeon - Sermon Notes Zechariah 4:10—“For who hath despised the day of small things?” Great numbers of persons do despise “the day of small things.” If they were wise, they would not do so; for it is not wise to despise anything, and to despise a thing because it is small is great folly. A small thing may be greatly good, or terribly evil; and in neither case would it be prudent to despise it. It is usually God’s way to begin his great works with a day of small things. Thus it is seen that there is nothing in the means themselves. Thus the divine power is more fully displayed. Thus faith is exercised, and made to learn many lessons. Why should men despise what God ordains? Who are those persons who dare act thus contemptuously? They are not entitled to give themselves such airs: yet they dare to do so. They show their contempt in various ways. They affect pity for such feebleness. Nehemiah 4:2. They decry, and find fault. 1 Samuel 17:28. They sneer, and ridicule. Matt. 13:55. Acts 17:18. They leave alone, with silent neglect. Acts 5:38. It is a sad pity when this contempt is poured upon a beginner in grace, for it may cause him sad distress and discouragement. Our object at this time is to reprove those who despise the earlier and weaker works of grace in the soul. True it is “the day of small things,” but this is to be rejoiced in, and is not to be despised. Let us commune with— I. THOSE WHO DESPISE OTHERS WHO ARE IN THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS. 1. Do you not know that there are babes in grace, and that these are true children of God? Do you doubt that evident fact? 2. Were you not once such little ones yourselves? If you never were, who are you to despise your betters? 3. Were not the greatest of the saints once very feeble? Would you have acted thus to them? 4. May not the strong be glad at times to be as sure of salvation as these little ones? Why despise those whom you may yet envy? 5. Does not our Lord care tenderly for the lambs? Is. 40:11. 6. Has he not threatened all proud despisers? Matt. 18:6. Who then dares despise the day of small things? Who are those who are so wicked? They are the proud, the ignorant, the thoughtless, the unfeeling, the profane, and such like. II. THOSE WHO DESPISE THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS IN THEMSELVES. 1. They will frequently fail to notice and nurture thoughts and feelings which would lead them to Christ. 2. They cannot believe that salvation can come by ordinary means, or through their present knowledge and emotions: these are too small in their esteem, they crave for signs and wonders. 3. Therefore they endeavour to kill their own thoughtfulness at its birth, and quench the spark of desire before it can become a flame. Yet these despised things might have led on to salvation. 4. If they would nurture their weak desires, and feeble resolves, and faint beliefs, and trembling hopes, good would come of them. 5. No doubt many think ill of their own condition when God thinks well of them. They judge that little faith, and little life, and little strength are useless; but the Lord thinks not so. It is wise to look away, both from small things and great things, to Jesus. Let us see his day, and be glad. John 8:56. Let us trust in his finished work, and rejoice in his continued work. “Rejoice, and see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.” See context. III. THOSE WHO DO NOT DESPISE THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS. 1. Hopeful pastors. We are looking out for gracious signs, and are more apt to be misled by our sanguine hopes than to fall into the opposite fault of despising the day of small things. 2. Anxious parents. They long to see buds of grace in their children. The smallest signs of spiritual life would charm them. 3. Wise soul-winners. They rejoice to see “first the blade.” 4. Jesus himself. He loves the little ones. Mark 10:14. Come ye to him, all ye trembling souls! MULTUM IN PARVO ("much in little") When the boy began to draw portraits upon his slate, and to sketch with charcoal, the great artist was in him in embryo. It was not every eye that could perceive his budding genius, but he who did so, and encouraged the youth to pursue art as his vocation, found a life-long satisfaction in having helped him. Had he sneered at the young draughtsman, he would have lived to see his folly; but now he takes pleasure in every triumph of the renowned painter. Some such joy, only of a higher and more spiritual order, will be yours if you stimulate early piety, and teach the tender heart the way to peace and holiness. To repress desires which are heavenward, because they are attended with something of childishness, is wicked cruelty: prune the vine of its wild shoots, but do not uproot it. Foster and nurture even the tiniest sign of grace. “Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it”: Is. 65:8. FEEBLEMIND.—I do not yet know all the truth; I am a very ignorant Christian man; sometimes, if I hear some rejoice in the Lord, it troubles me because I cannot do so too. It is with me as it is with a weak man among the strong, or as with a sick man among the healthy, or as a lamp despised. “He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease”: Job. 12:5. So that I know not what to do. GREATHEART.—But, brother, I have it in commission to comfort the feeble-minded, and to support the weak. You must needs go along with us; we will wait for you, we will lend you our help, we will deny ourselves of some things, both opinionative and practical, for your sake; we will not enter into doubtful disputations before you, we will be made all things to you rather than you shall be left behind. (Rom. 14, 1 Cor. 8, 9:22.)—Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress.” One afternoon, I noticed a young lady at the service, whom I knew to be a Sunday School teacher. After the service, I asked her where her class was. “Oh,” said she, “I went to the school, and found only a little boy, and so I came away.” “Only a little boy!” said I; “Think of the value of one such soul! The fires of a Reformation may be slumbering in that tow-headed boy; there may be a young Knox, or a Wesley, or a Whitefield in your class.”—D. L. Moody. The little lichen imperceptibly deposits the first layer of soil upon barren rocks in mid-ocean, from which grow up all the luxuriant wealth and beauty of the spice-island. Ferns have seeds so extremely diminutive that for a long time it was doubted if they existed at all. Yet such a seed, altogether invisible to the naked eye, floats on long journeys through the air, and falls on some lichen-covered island, where it immediately fructifies, and covers the place with vegetation. The moss is but a very little plant, yet when its seeds fall on deep, swampy, treacherous morasses, they grow up, and bind the ground together with such bands that it becomes quite safe to pass over,—building, in fact, a broad and durable bridge. “Throughout creation the grandest and most complicated ends are obtained by the employment of the simplest means.”—James Neil, in “Rays from the Realms of Nature.” Henry Blackaby - Small Things Are Not Despised For who scorns the day of small things?—Zechariah 4:10a The world loves the spectacular. God has proven that He is certainly capable of the extraordinary, but He often chooses to work through the ordinary and seemingly insignificant. In this way He demonstrates His love and His power. Throughout history, God's answer to a critical time was to send a baby. Isaac, Moses, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus were all born as answers to a time of need. When God delivered the Israelites from the Midianites' oppression, He intentionally used an army of merely three hundred men to defeat a vastly larger army. He had more soldiers available, but He preferred to demonstrate His power in the way He accomplished His purposes. When Jesus selected His first disciples He could have enlisted a multitude to follow Him, but He chose twelve. It was not the number of disciples but the quality of their walk with Him that would determine how they affected their world. When Jesus fed a multitude, five loaves of bread and two fish from a boy's lunch were sufficient in the hands of the Lord. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed (Matt. 13:31–32). The mustard seed was the smallest seed known to the Jews, yet it grew into an enormous tree. He also likened God's kingdom to leaven that is hardly noticeable but raises the entire batch of dough (Matt. 13:33). When children came to Jesus, His disciples assumed they were an annoyance and chased them away (Matt. 19:13–15). But Jesus said that in order to enter His kingdom, people must approach God as a child. Christians often accept the adage “the bigger the better.” We measure success by the number of people involved in our ministry. We seek spectacular displays of God's power. We must learn to view success as God does. God is interested in the heart; He is pleased with obedience. (Experiencing God Day by Day) Small Ways In Small Places Read: Isaiah 49:1-6 For who has despised the day of small things? — Zechariah 4:10 Often I meet with people who serve in what they think are seemingly small ways in small places. They are frequently discouraged by loneliness, feeling that their acts of service are insignificant. When I hear them speak, I think of one of the angels in C. S. Lewis’ book Out of the Silent Planet. He said: “My people have a law never to speak of sizes or numbers to you. . . . It makes you do reverence to nothings and pass by what is really great.” Sometimes culture says bigger is better—that size is the truest measure of success. It takes a strong person to resist that trend, especially if he or she is laboring in a small place. But we must not “pass by what is really great.” It’s not that numbers aren’t important (after all, the apostles counted their converts; see Acts 2:41). Numbers represent living people with eternal needs. We should all work and pray for large numbers of people to enter the kingdom, but numbers mustn’t be the basis for self-esteem. Lord, help me remember that there are no small places or small people. All are precious in Your sight. May I see the value of my work and cherish it as You do. Anyone doing God’s work in God’s way is important in His sight. The Power of Small Deeds July 19, 2001 — by Joanie Yoder Many great accomplishments for God had small beginnings. When Zerubbabel was called to rebuild God’s ruined temple, one of the first things he did, with the help of God’s people, was lay a foundation. Then they began building on that foundation, stone upon stone. Many shortsighted citizens balked at those basic efforts and “despised the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10). But God promised Zerubbabel success, not by mere human might and strength but by His Spirit. Author Mike Yaconelli illustrated this principle by writing about a teenager who became burdened for homeless people in Philadelphia. He decided to go around his neighborhood and collect blankets, which he gave to people living on the street. The following week he made another collection. Others soon followed his example. As a result of that first small act, there’s now an organization that gives blankets to homeless people around the world. The work we do in Jesus' name, When strengthened by His might, Can start off small but grow in time And bring the Lord delight. —Sper The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention. "For who has despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10). When a-young boy offered his bread and two tiny fish to Jesus, the Lord blessed his small lunch and it became a bountiful provision for many hungry people. God does the same when we offer Him our insignificant actions. He takes what little we have and uses it mightily for His glory. One night in London two Christian men were trying to decide whether to cancel a missionary society meeting because the weather was so bad. "Is it worthwhile to hold this service?" one man asked. "Perhaps not," the other answered, "but I don't like to shirk my responsibility. Besides, the meeting has been announced, and some-one might come." Don't despise little things; a lantern can do what the sun never can—shine at night. Small Is Beautiful January 24, 2009 — by David H. Roper Just the other day someone said of a friend, “This man is destined for a great ministry,” by which he meant he was headed for the big time—a high-profile church with a big budget. It made me wonder: Why do we think that God’s call is necessarily upwardly mobile? Why wouldn’t He send His best workers to labor for a lifetime in some small place? Aren’t there people in obscure places who need to be evangelized and taught? God is not willing that any perish. Jesus cared about the individual as well as the masses. He taught large crowds if they appeared, but it never bothered Him that His audience grew smaller every day. Many left Him, John said (John 6:66), a fickle attrition that would have thrown most of us into high panic. Yet Jesus pressed on with those the Father gave Him. We live in a culture where bigger is better, where size is the measure of success. It takes a strong person to resist that trend, especially if he or she is laboring in a small place. The Lord will give you help and strength For work He bids you do; To serve Him from a heart of love Is all He asks of you. —Fasick Little is much when God is in it. Zechariah 4:11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” KJV Zechariah 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? BGT Zechariah 4:11 καὶ ἀπεκρίθην καὶ εἶπα πρὸς αὐτόν τί αἱ δύο ἐλαῖαι αὗται αἱ ἐκ δεξιῶν τῆς λυχνίας καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων LXE Zechariah 4:11 And I answered, and said to him, What are these two olive-trees, which are on the right and left hand of the candlestick? NET Zechariah 4:11 Next I asked the messenger, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the menorah?" CSB Zechariah 4:11 I asked him, "What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?" ESV Zechariah 4:11 Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" NIV Zechariah 4:11 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" NLT Zechariah 4:11 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, NRS Zechariah 4:11 Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" What: Zec 4:3 Rev 11:4 Related Passage: Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” Zechariah 4:12 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” KJV Zechariah 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? BGT Zechariah 4:12 καὶ ἐπηρώτησα ἐκ δευτέρου καὶ εἶπα πρὸς αὐτόν τί οἱ δύο κλάδοι τῶν ἐλαιῶν οἱ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν τῶν δύο μυξωτήρων τῶν χρυσῶν τῶν ἐπιχεόντων καὶ ἐπαναγόντων τὰς ἐπαρυστρίδας τὰς χρυσᾶς LXE Zechariah 4:12 And I asked the second time, and said to him, What are the two branches of the olive-trees that are by the side of the two golden pipes that pour into and communicate with the golden oil funnels? NET Zechariah 4:12 Before he could reply I asked again, "What are these two extensions of the olive trees, which are emptying out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?" CSB Zechariah 4:12 And I questioned him further, "What are the two olive branches beside the two gold conduits, from which golden oil pours out?" ESV Zechariah 4:12 And a second time I answered and said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?" NIV Zechariah 4:12 Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?" NLT Zechariah 4:12 and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?" NRS Zechariah 4:12 And a second time I said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?" What be: Mt 20:23 Rev 11:4 through: Hag 1:1 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves NET NOTE - The usual meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁבֹּלֶת (shébolet) is “ears” (as in ears of grain). Here it probably refers to the produce of the olive trees, i.e., olives. Many English versions render the term as “branches,” but cf. NAB “tufts.” F B